A deep learning approach for the screening of referable age-related macular degeneration - Model development and external validation.

Purpose: To develop a deep learning image assessment software, VeriSee™ AMD, and to validate its accuracy in diagnosing referable age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: For model development, a total of 6801 judgable 45-degree color fundus images from patients, aged 50 years and over, were collected. These images were assessed for AMD severity by ophthalmologists, according to the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS) AMD category.

Injectable cross-linked hyaluronic acid hydrogels with epigallocatechin gallate loading as vitreous substitutes.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) serves as a vitreous substitute owing to its ability to mimic the physical functions of native vitreous humor. However, pure HA hydrogels alone do not provide sufficient protection against potential inflammatory risks following vitrectomy. In this study, HA was crosslinked with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE) to form HA hydrogels (HB).

Impact of dry eye disease treatment on patient quality of life.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a common multifactorial disease affecting a substantial proportion of the population worldwide. Objective tests and subjective symptoms evaluation are necessary to assess DED. Although various treatments have been introduced, accurately evaluating the efficacy of those treatments is difficult because of the disparity between diagnostic tests and patient-reported symptoms.

Relationship between Dry Eye Disease and Dyslipidemia: A Systematic Review.

Background: Dyslipidemia has been suggested to be associated with the occurrence of dry eye disease (DED). However, whether dyslipidemia is responsible for the development of DED remains unclear. In this systematic review, we explored the relationship between DED and dyslipidemia by using quantitative data.

Dry eye syndrome model established in rabbits via mitomycin C injection in the lacrimal gland.

Purpose: To develop a new dry eye syndrome (DES) animal model by injecting mitomycin C (MMC) into the lacrimal glands (LGs) of rabbits evaluated by clinical examinations.

Materials And Methods: A volume of 0.1 mL of MMC solution was injected in the LG and the infraorbital lobe of the accessory LG of rabbits for DES induction.

Risk analysis for patients with arterial thromboembolic events after intravitreal ranibizumab or aflibercept injections.

Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents have been increasingly applied in the treatment of retinal neovascular diseases. Concerns have arisen that these intravitreal agents may be associated with a potential risk of arterial thromboembolic (ATE) events. We conducted a retrospective, nationwide population-based cohort study to analyze the risks for ATE events in patients receiving intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) or intravitreal aflibercept (IVA).

Functional Peptide-Loaded Gelatin Nanoparticles as Eyedrops for Cornea Neovascularization Treatment.

Background: Corneal neovascularization (NV) is a process of abnormal vessel growth into the transparent cornea from the limbus and can disturb the light passing through the cornea, resulting in vision loss or even blindness. The use of nanomedicine as an effective therapeutic formulation in ophthalmology has led to higher drug bioavailability and a slow drug release rate. In this research, we designed and explored the feasibility of a new nanomedicine, gp91 ds-tat (gp91) peptide-encapsulated gelatin nanoparticles (GNP-gp91), for inhibiting corneal angiogenesis.

Association of lipid-lowering agent use and dry eye disease: A nationwide matched case-control study in Taiwan, 2002-2016.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between lipid-lowering agent use and the risks of diagnosed dry eye disease (DED).

Methods: This retrospective, case-control study included 780 786 patients who received lipid-lowering agents in 2002-2016, of which 17 409 were newly diagnosed with DED during a ≥2-year follow-up period. These patients were matched 1:4 with control participants for age, sex, and comorbidities.

Trends in Diagnosed Dry Eye Disease Incidence, 2001 to 2015: A Nationwide Population-Based Study in Taiwan.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the longitudinal trend in the incidence of diagnosed dry eye disease (DED) from 2001 to 2015 in Taiwan.

Methods: We obtained data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database that covers 99.9% of Taiwanese residents.

Evaluation of Topical and Subconjunctival Injection of Hyaluronic Acid-Coated Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery to Posterior Eye.

Posterior eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, are difficult to treat due to ineffective drug delivery to affected areas. Intravitreal injection is the primary method for posterior eye drug delivery; however, it is usually accompanied by complications. Therefore, an effective and non-invasive method is required.

Comparison of risks of arterial thromboembolic events and glaucoma with ranibizumab and aflibercept intravitreous injection: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background: To compare intravitreal aflibercept injection with intravitreal ranibizumab injection for the risk of major arterial thromboembolic events (ATEs) and glaucoma.

Methods: This retrospective, nationwide cohort study investigated 15 611 and 3867 patients aged >50 years with at least one pharmacy claim for intravitreal ranibizumab injection and aflibercept injection between 2011 and 2016, respectively. The inverse probability of treatment weighting method was performed to adjust the baseline difference between the two groups and the hazard risk of adverse events was estimated using the Cox proportional regression model.

Development of Lutein-Containing Eye Drops for the Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome.

Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a common ophthalmological disease that decreases tear secretion and causes dryness, photophobia, pain, severe corneal rupture, and even blindness. Ocular and lacrimal gland inflammation is one of the pathological mechanisms underlying DES. Therefore, effective suppression of inflammation is a crucial strategy for the treatment of DES.

Refractive outcomes of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with arcuate keratotomy and standard phacoemulsification with toric intraocular lens implantation.

Purpose: Femtosecond laser arcuate keratotomy (FS-AK) and toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation are effective for the correction of eyes with corneal astigmatism. In this study, the postoperative refractive outcomes of patients receiving femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) with FS-AK and patients receiving standard phacoemulsification with toric IOL implantation were evaluated.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing FLACS with FS-AK (the FS-AK group) and patients undergoing standard phacoemulsification with toric IOL implantation (the toric IOL group).

Association of interleukin-6 gene polymorphisms and glaucoma: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the association between IL-6 gene polymorphisms ( and ) and glaucoma.

Methods: A comprehensive search was performed to select eligible studies regarding IL-6 polymorphisms and glaucoma. The effect sizes in the fixed-effects model were calculated using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Chitosan-cartilage extracellular matrix hybrid scaffold induces chondrogenic differentiation to adipose-derived stem cells.

Introduction: Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are potential cell sources for cartilage tissue engineering. Chitosan has been shown to enhance the stemness and differentiation capability of ASCs, and the native extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from articular cartilage has been also reported to induce chondrogenic differentiation of ASCs. Here we tested the hypothesis that a porous three-dimensional (3D) hybrid scaffold composed of chitosan and cartilage ECM can provide a better environment to induce ASC chondrogenesis.

Dry Eye Disease: A Review of Epidemiology in Taiwan, and its Clinical Treatment and Merits.

Dry eye disease (DED) has become common on a global scale in recent years. There is a wide prevalence of DED in different countries based on various ethnicities and environment. DED is a multifactorial ocular disorder.

Efficacy of Vectored Thermal Pulsation and Warm Compress Treatments in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Purpose: Meibomian gland dysfunction is the main cause of dry eye disease (DED) and is traditionally managed using warm compress treatment (WCT). Vectored thermal pulsation treatment (VTPT) is a novel method for treating DED.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that compared the efficacy of VTPT and WCT in treating DED.

Gelatin-epigallocatechin gallate nanoparticles with hyaluronic acid decoration as eye drops can treat rabbit dry-eye syndrome effectively via inflammatory relief.

Introduction: Dry-eye syndrome (DES) is a general eye disease. Eye drops are the common ophthalmological medication. However, the ocular barrier makes it difficult to attain high drug bioavailability.

Ocular Drug Delivery: Role of Degradable Polymeric Nanocarriers for Ophthalmic Application.

Ocular drug delivery has been a major challenge for clinical pharmacologists and biomaterial scientists due to intricate and unique anatomical and physiological barriers in the eye. The critical requirement varies from anterior and posterior ocular segments from a drug delivery perspective. Recently, many new drugs with special formulations have been introduced for targeted delivery with modified methods and routes of drug administration to improve drug delivery efficacy.

Influence of visual impairment and hearing impairment on functional dependence status among people in Taiwan-An evaluation using the WHODAS 2.0 score.

Background: Visual impairment (VI) and hearing impairment (HI) are the two most common types of sensory disability encountered clinically. However, VI and HI result in different limitations in daily life. We assessed the level of functioning in patients with VI or HI based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health.

Expression of aquaporins in intestine after heat stroke.

Heat stroke (HS) has been shown to induce intestinal barrier dysfunction during whole body hyperthermia. HS-induced intestinal permeability change may result from modulation of aquaporin (AQP) expression, which subsequently regulates water homeostasis. This study aimed to evaluate AQP expression in the intestine of rats with HS at different recovery time points.

Diabetic polyneuropathy and the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy: a nationwide, population-based study.

Purpose: To assess the relationship between diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) and the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: From 1997 to 2010, we identified 5031 newly diagnosed DPN patients and 20 124 controls matched for sex, age, and index year. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of DR between the DPN patients and the non-DPN group.